Actuating means for knitting mechanism



Jzin.1l,1938. T. SCHMIDT 2,105,444"

Pl 4- F if j E ma 'INVEN'TOR. v124:2 ehlnialiv I L 'ATTORNEY.

Jan. 11,1938. T. SCHMIDT ACTUA'I'ING MEANS FOR KNITTING MECHANISM Fiied Nov. 4, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORC ,Sakmidfi" BY A T TORNEY.

Jan. 11, 1938. P. SCHMIDT 'ACTUATING MEANS FOR KNITTING MEcHANisM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 4, 1936 l LIE--5- INVENTOR.

' ATTOR Y.

Jan. 11, 1938. P. SCHMIDT 2,105,444

ACTUATING-MEANS FOR KNITTING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 4, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR: JZvuZ S BY ATTORNEY I Patented Jan. 11; 1938 PATENT OFFICE 2,105,444 screams MEANS roa xm'r'rmo maca- I ANISM Paul Schmidt, Wyomisslng, Pa, assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, 2a., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 4, 1938, Serial No. 109,086

'8 Claims. (01. 66-129) My invention relates to novel mechanism for operating elements of knitting machines at different speeds, and particularly to mechanisms for operating friction boxes by friction rods at difierent speeds in a straight machine 'for knitting a full-fashioned stocking blank or the like.

In amachine for knitting full-fashioned stocking blanks, certain yarn carriers operate to lay ground yarn entirely across the blanks, and others to lay additional yarns for short distances over, or with, the ground-yarns, as in the heel areas to reinforce the blanks at these locations; these carriers all being operated by one friction rod.

Thus, in-knitting a blank to have double-yarn heel areas, at least three yarn carriers are required, one to lay the full courses and two to lay the heel reinforcing yarns.

In a ringless stocking having this double-yarn heel reinforcement, five carriers are employed, with three for laying single yarns in sequence for the full courses and two for laying the heel reinforcements.

' In knitting ablank to have triple yarn heel areas, at least five yarn carriers are required, and,

in a ringless stocking this-number is increased to seven; all operated by the one friction rod.,

In modern practice the machine is operated at very high speeds, so that the heat of friction betweenthe several friction boxes and the single friction rod is substantially increased and has become a serious problem, with respect to which a number of remedies have been suggested. Among the objects of my invention are to reduce the above-mentioned frictional heat and the damaging resuits thereof.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for operating different elements of a knitting machine at diflerentspeeds by a mechanism of materlally enhanced simplicity'and reduction in the number of its parts.

A further'object is toprovide a device of .the above indicated 'characte that is durable in construction, economical to anufacture and'eifective in its operation.

with these and other objects which may. be incident to a utilization of the improvement, the invention comprises the parts and combinations thereof, which may be variedin shape, texture, relation and other features, and the operation, which may be varied, inaccordance with the Q spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although means are shown in the accompa ing drawings for carrying the invention into practical effect, these are merely by way of example,

without limiting the invention in its useful applications to the particular constructions which for the purpose of explanation are made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a 'view, iii rear' elevation, having distance breaks, of portions of a full-fashioned knitting machine embodying the invention, elements being broken away and omitted;

Fig. '2 is an enlarged view, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, parts being omitted;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail plan view of friction box and carrier bar portions of the machine, substantially as viewed in the direction of, and between, the arrows along a line 3-8 of Fig. 1; 1 Fig, 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view, taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a portion of the structure of Fig. 5, taken at right angles thereto; and

Fig. '1 is a diagram of portions of a full-fash ioned stocking leg blank, and of the adjacently associated yarn-laying elements of the machine.

In practicing the invention, mechanism is provided foroperating a knitting mechanism and a full-coarse yarn carrier'in usual relation, and

simultaneously operating reinforcing carriers at a reduced speed, such as half the speed of the full-course carrier or carriers. This action is obtained by the use of a half-speed friction rod, which is auxiliary, or in addition, to a usual friction rod of a full-fashioned knitting machine. Further, means are provided whereby each of a plurality of yarn carriers may be connected either to the usual friction rod or to the half speed rod as desired.

Preferably, a simplified speed-reducing mechanism is provided of the type disclosed and claimed in the patent to Waechtler and Suess, No. 2,059,667, granted November 3, 1936 and having a reduced number of parts. Such mechanism has a single coulier motion mechanism including only one long or main rocker arm by which the main or full-speed friction rod isoperated, and to which the above-mentioned reduced-speed friction rod is directly connected independently of the connection between the main friction rod and sary to an understanding of the invention.

character in the knitting art, but form no part of the present invention.

The figures exemplify the elements of the invention, and also only such elements of a Reading full fashioned knitting machine as neces- The other members of the machine and the operation thereof are well known, as set forth in the Reading Full Fashioned Knitting Machine Catalogue, copyright 1935, and published by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsylvania.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the frame work or base support of a standard full fashioned knitting machine therein indicated, comprises center frames Ill and end frames H rigidly positioned in spaced relation by a front rail l2, aback rail l3 and a center bed l4.

A coulier motion mechanism C of well-known type, comprises a draw bar or pitman IS, on

- which are mounted a pair of rollers I6 (only one of which is shown) for cooperation with a coulier cam H, to oscillate a small rocker arm (not shown) and a large rocker arm l9. This mechanism operates to translate the rotary movement of the cam shaft into the reciprocable movements of the yarn feeding and loop forming mechanisms.

The rollers l6, adjustably secured to the draw bar l5, cooperate \ivith the coulier cam l'l to reciprocate the draw bar, which is pivotally connected at its ends to the small and large rocker arms, respectively: The rocker arms are pivotally mounted on brackets, which are mounted on the back rail I3, one of these brackets 24 being shown in Fig. 1, for supporting the large rocker arm l9.

Reciprocation of the draw bar l5, oscillates the large rocker arm l9 about its lower end pivot, and reciprocates a cross head 21 through a. link 26, the ends of which are pivoted to the large rocker arm l9 and to the cross head 21, respectively. The

' cross head 21, which is fixed to a full-speed friction rod 32, is carried by a slur cam connectin rod bracket 29 that is slidably mounted on a stationary guide 36.

A bracket or pivot support B is slidably reciprocably mounted on a back narrowing shaft 34 and comprises upper and lower portions36 and 31 secured together, as by bolts or screws. The lower portion 31 has a depending arm 38 having a vertical slot 39' therein in which a pivot support 42 for one end of a link 43 is mounted for flxed adjusted position in any'part of the tionary rod 48, on which the connector T slides,

is provided to support and prevent turning of the connector about the main support on'the shaft 34. Also,-a slide guide 5|, Fig. 2, of fork shape secured to the arm 38 and embracing a back catch-bar shaft 52 is provided to assist the rod 48 to prevent turning of the connector T and the bracket B relative to the shaft 34.

As better-seen in Figs. 5 and 6, the connector device T comprises a vertical plunger or detent rod 54 having a. pointed or tapered lower end 55 for cooperation with a notch 56 in the shock reducer rod 46. The plunger 64 is vertically reciprocably mounted in a member 51 with respect to which it is prevented from turning by a pin and slot device 56. A spring 59 operates between the plunger 54 and a bridge 62, whichissupported by a pair of bolts 63 on the member 51, to bias the plunger 54'downwardly.

As indicated in Fig. 5, a positive connection is provided, as'by a set screw 6|, between the reduced speed friction rod 4'! and the connector T to positively connect the rod 41 to the coulier motion mechanism.

Fig. 7 illustrates one application of the invention, in producing a full fashioned stocking leg blank S having reinforced heel areas L and R. Three friction boxes 64, 65 and 66 are shown, these boxes being identical except for a member I6 on the box 64 to be thrown into and out of the path of travel of the collars 46 on the shock reducer rod 45.

As better seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the box 65 is of double box character surrounding the closely adjacent parallel main and auxiliary friction rods .32 and 41, respectively, each half of the box being like a complete single box including the usual friction linings 1|, shoes I2 and leaf springs 13, but the box halves being distinguished by a cam handle 15 on the full-speed half of the box, and a similar handle 16 on the reduced speed half of the box. A usual slide bar 18 on the box 65 having a handle 19 is adapted for selective coopera tion with a dog 86 on any of the usual yarn-carrier bars I to 8, inclusive, on each of which a yarn-carrier or finger is adapted to lay yarn to a knitting head assembly K (Fig. 2) including the usual needle bank 8|, sinkers, dividers and other elements. The carrier bars are supported by stationary brackets 82 on the center bed l4, and are provided with usual end stops S, Fig. 1. The boxes 64, 65 and 66 are connected to carrier bars 4, 5 and 6, Fig. 7, on which are mounted yarn-carrier fingers 84, 85 and 66, respectively.

In this instance, .the boxes 65 and 66 are connected to the half-speed friction rod 41, and the box 64 is connected to the full-speed friction rod 32.

In operation, upon rotation of the coulier cam I Lthe pitman l5 oscillates the rocker arm I 9 about its lower-end pivot, whereby the link 28 at the upper end of the rocker arm, the slur cam connecting rod bracket 29, the cross-head 2I and the friction rod 32 are recip'rocated at the speed of substantially the fastest moving part of v the rocker arm through distances in accordance with oscillation of the rocker arm between lines a and b.

When both the high speed friction rod 32 and the low speed friction rod 41, are at the right Near the ends of the strokes, the member HI will engage one of the collars 46 on the half-speed shock reducer rod 45 whereby the box 64 will slip relative to the high-speed friction rod 32 but will be carried thereby at the reduced speed until the carrier bars engage the end stops S. Upon'impact of m'ember "with a collar 46, the plunger 7 54 is momentarily lifted partially out of the notch 56 against the action of the spring 59 which thereby absorbs the shock of this impact, and subsequently presses the plunger back into normal position in the notch. At the ends of the strokes of rods 32 and 41, the loops will be formed in a usual manner, whereupon the return strokes of the ground yarn carrier 4 and the splicing yarn carriers 5 and 6 will take place.

Although as many yarn carriers may be employed as in machines heretofore constructed, by the arrangement in whichthe splicing carriers are operated at only half the speed of the main carrier or carriers, the heat of friction is' greatly reduced and the ability of the machine to run at high speed in more effective manner is materially,

enhanced. This feature marks a desirable advance in the knitting machine art, and' ensures the effective production of knitted fabric in accordance with a principle which to the best of my knowledge has not heretofore been known.

The improvement specifically shown and described, by which the results are obtained, may

be modified in various ways, without departing from the invention as set forth and claimed.

I claim:

1. In a straight knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism including a needle bank, yarn carrier means including yarn-carrier bars parallel to the needle bank, means for actuating the yarn carrier bars including a plurality of friction rods reciprocable at different speeds, and a single friction box for selectively connecting a carrier bar to one or another of said friction rods.

2. A straight knitting machine comprising loop forming mechanism including a needle bank, yarn carrier means including yarn carrier elements parallel to the needle bank, means for actuating the yarn carrier elements including a plurality of members reciprocable at different speeds parallel to the carrier elements, means for adjusting the ratio of said speeds, and a single means for selectively connecting a carrier element totone or another of said members.

3. A straight knitting machine comprising loopforming mechanism including a needle bank, yarn carrier means including yarn carrier ele ments parallel to the needle bank, means for actuating the yarn carrier elements including a plurality of members reciprocable at..diflerent speeds parallel to the carrier elements, and a single means for selectively connecting a carrier element to one or another of 'said members.

4. A straight knitting machine comprising loop forming mechanism including a needle bank,

yarn carrier means including yarn carrier bars parallel to the needl'e'bank, means for actuating the yarn-carrier bars including a plurality of friction rods longitudinally recipr ocable parallel to the carrier rods, a friction box including means for selectively connecting it to one or another of said friction rods, and means for con-' necting the friction box to one of the carrier bars.

5. A straight knitting machine comprising loop forming mechanism including a needle bank, yarn carrier means including yarn carrier bars parallel to the needle bank, means for actuating the yarn "carrier bars including a plurality of friction rods longitudinally reciprocable at different speeds parallel to the carrier rods, a friction box including means for selectively connecting it to one or another of said friction rods, and means for connecting the friction box to one of the car rier bars. Y,

6. A straight knitting machine comprising loop forming mechanism includingv a needle bank, yarn carrier meansincluding yarn carrier bars parallel to the needle bank, means for actuating the yarn-carrier bars including friction rods disposed in closely adjacent side-by-side relation and longitudinally reciprocable at different speeds parallel to the carrier bars, a friction box structure surrounding said friction rods, sets of friction shoes and clamps carried by the box for selectively connecting the box to one or another friction rod, and means for connecting the box to a carrier bar.

7. In a straight knittingmachine, loop-forming mechanism, a plurality of yarn carrier bars, and means for operating the bars, said means includinga high-speed friction rod, a friction box for connecting the high-speed friction rod to a yarn carrier bar, a low speedfriction rod, and a friction box for connecting the low-speed friction rod to another carrier bar, one of said friction boxes being selectively connectible to the other of said friction rods.

8. In a flat knitting machine having a plurality of knitting sections, in combination, a plurality of- CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent-No, 2,1054%. January 11, 19 8.

' PAUL SCHMIDT.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above 'number ed patent requiring correction es follows: In the heading .to the drawings, Sheets 1 and 2, name of inventor, for "TQSCHMIDWread P. SCHMIDT; and that the said Letters Patent should be read'with this correction therein thet the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and seaied this 29th day of March, A. n. 195

v Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) -v Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

